Turn signaling device



Sept. 12, 1950 TRA NSFA RENT PLASTlG L. R. KuBlAs 2,521,857

TURN SIGNALING DEVICE Filed March 1e. 1949 39% Eil n@ Patented Sept. 12,` 1950 TQVYVUNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 'rUiaNl SIGNALING DEVICE Lillian R. Klimas, oeqarita'pias, mwa' Application Marchas, iai-9, seriaiN. 81,647

zolainis. (101.,'177-329) This invention relates to a turn signaling device for automobiles and other vehicles'. l i .One of the important objects of this invention is the production of a simple and eicient means for signaling the direction of turn of a vehicle, said means including extensible transparent illuminated arms which may be readily mounted in position and easilyoperated from a location adjacent the steering wheel of the vehicle upon which the signaling device is mounted. Y, y

A further obj ect of this invention is the production @of Va simple and eiiicient transparent .signale ing'. arm which is so constructed as to be moved laterally of the vehicle upon which lit is` mounted to signal the direction of turn, :and to automaticallyilluminate the armwhen the arm is in an extended position, the operation of( the arm being controlled by aproperly located switch.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing: i Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewof the front portion of an automobile, show-` ing the-signaling arms mounted in position,.the actuating electrical circuit being shown in;dia,

gram;

l. Figure:2 is a longitudinal sectional viewloi the'.

casing, and'one of the signaling arm assemblies, the l signaling means being shown in elevation and in a retracted position;

Figure Sis a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one of thesignaling arms, the signaling means being shown in an extended signaling Dosition; p

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View of the electrical circuit for controlling the signaling mechanism;

n Figure 5 is a side elevational yiew of the relay used in the electrical circuit;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the actuatingswitch box and switch arm; 1 ,v vFigure 7 is a perspective View of a lead sup-v porting means which is preferably` used asa By referring to the drawing, it will ibefnotedl that I0 designates the body of the vehicle upon which the signaling means is mounted, prefer.

ably the cowling between the front door and the hood ofthe vehicle. VIt should be understood that the signal may, however, be mountedr in any desired location upon thevehicle to obtain theidesired results, without departing from the spirit of the invention. The inventionembodies two signal 2 ing assemblies II and I2, one mounted upon the right-.side ofv the body I and the other on the left, as shown in Figure l. These'signaling assemblies are of identical construction, and thereforeit will Albe necessary tofdescribe only one in detail.V As shown in Figures 2 and3, each signaling as` sembly comprises a hollow tube or casing I3, preferably brassor other suitable material, of a suitable length, diameter and thickness.v A solenoid coily I 4 of suitable size and .construction is fastened ini-the inner end of the tube I3 `by means of the anchoring screws I5. i The! solenoid coil 'I4 is of a suitable construction to allow itto be energized bythe power supply .of the Avehicle upon which the signaling device is mounted. The outer end of the tube or casing I3 is firmly fastened to a surroundingmetal collar I6 which collar -is fixed toV the tube I3in -any desired manner. The collar I6 is externally threaded and extends through the body I0, asshown indetail in Figure 3. A nut I1 is threaded upon the collar IIS and abuts the inner face of the wall ofthe body IU. An outer flangeI Slis carried bythe outer end of thecasing or tube I3` and abuts the outerface of the' wall of the body I0. The nut Il firmly clamps the wall of the body I0 betweenthe flange I8 and the nut I'I` to lock. and firmly support the tube I3 upon` the ybody II] and provide la support therefor; Any suitable means may be provided for attaching the tube I3 to the body Ill-without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A plunger or core I9 `passes longitudinally throughthe center of the solenoid I4 and is made of suitable metal so that the plunger I9 will-be ejected from one end of the coil I4 when the coil IllA is energized from the power supply. A hollow transparent signal tube 2U preferably plastic, is'

tube 20, and a removable electrical bulb 23 of the conventional typey is carried bythis socket 22. The socket 22 is firmly anchored in position by the supporting ring 24'formed of plastic or similar material.

A thermostat element comprising a bi-metallic strip.25 of proper dimension, size and'capacity to break its normally closed contacts approximately once each second upon being energized by the power supply, is fastened to one side of the inneriace of the tube 2),'as shown in Figure 3.

ilhis strip is of the conventional type to provide the conventional make-and-break contact for a, iiash bulb signal. The cap 2| carries a disc 26 at its outer end which overlies the flange I8 of the tube I3 when the signal is in a retracted position. This structure protects the interior of the signals from the effects of weather.

One contact of the lamp socket is connected to one contact of the Iloi-metallic strip 25 by means of a conducting connection 2'I, and the other end of the strip 25 is connected to the end of the metal solenoid plunger I9 by a suitable conduction connection 28, as shown in Figure 3. The opposite contact of the lamp socket 22 at 29, is connected by a conducting strip 30, formed of copper or other suitable material, to a suitable copper or other segment or commutator 3|. This commutator 3| preferably is embedded in the inner ange 32 of the plastic tube 20, as shown in Figure 3.. This commutator 3| extends flush with the periphery of the flange 32 and is adapted to, close an electrical circuit with the contact tip 33, which is carried by the spring arm 34 mountedon the outside of the tube I3 when ,the parts are in registering position. This spring conducting arm 34 constitutes an extension of the conductor strip 35, which extends longitudinally of the tube or casing I3 and is in turn connected to the current supply wire 36. The wire 36 is also connected to the winding of the solenoid I4, as shown in Figure 2. The Contact 33 provides a means for forming a contact without the necessity of employing exible lleads along the casing or tube. The contact 33,v arm 34, and lead 35, are suitably insulated in the conventional manner.

`A- coil spring 31 of proper size and pressure is carried in the outer end of the tube I3 opposite the solenoid I 4,. The spring is interposedl between the flange 32 ofthe signal tube 29 and the outer abutment 38 of the casing or tube I3 to normally return the tube 20 to a retracted position within the tube I3 as soon yas the solenoid I4 is vcie-energized. When the solenoid i4 is energized, the signal tube 20 willbe moved to an extended position, shown in Figure 3, thereby compressing the spring 31., As soon as thesolenoid I4v is cie-energized the spring 31 willv expand and return the solenoid plunger |9, which is fixed to the flange 32, to a retracted position in the casing ortube I3 and thereby withdraw the tube 20 to a retracted position-within the tube I3, at the same time cutting off flow of .the electrical current from the lamp bulb 23 due to the breaking of the connection between the elements 3| and 33.

An auxiliary relay 39 and an actuating switch 4U shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6, .are necessary or important for correct operation of the signals, and the operation of which is as follows:

As shown in Figure 5, a second .bi-metallic strip 43 in the nature of a thermostat element is connectedgin series, with one side of thecontacts 42, and the other side of the contact 42 is connected in series with the magnet of the relay. The thermostat element 43, when the magnet of the relay is energized, does not open its contacts for approximately ten to fifteen seconds and provides a periodically delayed contact. Consequently, when the relay 39 is operated, the signal is energized even though the switch 40 isA only momentarily closed. When the bi-metallic strip 4,3 on the relay has been energized `for the proper length of time, its contacts open, thereby deenergizing the relay and the signal solenoid I4. VThe coil spring 3l will then return the plunger I9 of the signal I2 to its retracted position as 4 the spring 31 expands. The signal I2 will then be ready for a second operation. When the signal |I to the right of the vehicle is to signal a right hand turn, the switch arm 4I is swung in the opposite direction for actuating the signal II. The flexible lead or return wire 44 of the solenoid I4 which is grounded on the frame allows the current to pass from the lead or wire 36 which is connected to the power system or battery and back` to the ground connection afterI the proper switch is actuated. The core I9'is' connected to the -wire or ground lead by means of the flexible lead 45.

Figure 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuit of the two signaling devices. Switch 40 is a single pole, double throw, spring return, toggle switch of the three position type of such design that the switch handle is normally in the center position with both positions of the switch normally open. The handle 4I of the switch 4|! is, of course, insulated from the contacts carried by the center arm. v.

By referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the action of the signaling device is as follows When the switch arm or handle 4| is depressed in, for example, the down-ward 'position the center contact is closed against the upper contact R. This allows the current from the battery or other power supply to flow through rthe center contact, thence through the upper contact R and through bi-metallic strip 43B, through the coil of relay 3BR and back to the other side of the battery for power supply, which is grounded. The current also ows through relay contact 42B, and through the movable contact of relay 39B which has been closed by the action of. relay 391.u being energized; thus sealing-in relay 39R soY that itis continually energized even though switch handle 4I is freturned to its center position. f

The current through the upper contactRof switch 4U also ilows through solenoidMRand thence to ground, which is the other side of the power supply, thus energizing the signaling device, and forcing the solenoid plunger out ofthe solenoid coil. The current also ows through contact 33R and commutator 3IR, thence throughA the signaling lamp 23R and through the bi-meta'llic strip 2ER, and returnsto the grounded side of thepower supply. Bi-metallic stripZSR Awith its short reaction time of approximately 'one-halt' to one second flashes lamp 23R at a steady rate.A When bi-metallie strip 43R has reacted within a ten or fteen second interval, vits contacts open, thus opening the coil circuit to relay 39E and allowing the contact 12R to drop out. Thus, the device is ready for another operation.

The action of the left signal is identical'with that ofthe right signal except that the handle 4|' of switch 4D' is moved to the opposite direction or in the position indicated by'L in the diagram. This allows current from the batteryv to ow through the center contacts of switch 46| `through contact L then through bi-metallic stripA 431, through relay `coil 39L and back tothe other side of the battery. Current also flows through contact 42L which has been' closed by the action of current flowing through relay coil 39D, 'thus sealing-in the relay. Current also fiowsthrough brought together by the action ofv thevsolenoid I4L forcing the plunger out of the solenoidl Curl-l rent then flows through lamp 23L and throughf bi-metallic strip 2511, and to the other side of# the power supply. Bi-metallic strip 251' flashes the signal lamp at one-half to one second inter' vals, approximately, and after a ten or fteen second interval from the initiation of this sequence, bi-metallc strip ASL opens, thus allowing relay 39L to drop out and setting up the circuit for another operation.

Numerical designation for the various components follow the numerical designation on the drawing. The letters R and L designate the similar parts of the right and left signaling devices respectively.

For the purpose of supporting the various lead wires in the circuit, I preferably provide suitable hangers 46 placed at suitable locations upon the body of the vehicle or other support. These hangers 46 suspend link rods 41 which in turn suspend suitable hollow tubes 48 through which the leads extend.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the construction of the device may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims. v

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A turn signaling device for vehicles comprising a hollow casing, a hollow transparent signal tube slidably mounted in said casing, a solenoid coil xed in one end of said casing, a plunger slidable in said solenoid, electrical means for actuating said solenoid to move said plunger outwardly of the solenoid to e, display position, means connecting the outer end of said plunger to the inner end of said transparent signal tube, a sup'- port for said casing, a spring engaging abutment carried by said support and the outer end of said casing, said transparent signal tube being slidably mounted through said abutment, an expansion coil spring encircling said signal tube within the casing and interposed between said abutment and said plunger to normally hold the plunger and signal tube in a retracted position Within said hollow casing, a transparent removable cap carried by the outer end of said transparent tube, a removable electric bulb in said cap, means for illuminating said bulb, means carried by said cap and abutting said abutment when the signal tube is in a retracted position and sealing the outer end of the casing and constituting a weather seal therefor when the signal tube is in a retracted position, and the removable cap permitting access through the outer end of the signal tube to facilitate replacement of the electric bulb. y

2. A turn signaling device for vehicles comprising a hollow casing, a hollow transparent signal tube slidably mounted in said casing, a solenoid coil fixed in one end of said casing, a plunger slidable in said solenoid, electrical means for actuating said solenoid to move said plunger outwardly of the solenoid to aA display position, means connecting the outer end of said plunger to the inner end of said transparent signal tube, a support for said casing, a spring engaging abutment carried by said support and the outer end of said casing, said transparent signal tube being slidably mounted through said abutment, an expansion coil spring encircling said signal tube within the casing and interposed between said abutment and said plunger to normally hold the plunger and signal tube in a retracted position within said hollow casing, a, transparent removable cap carried :by the outer end of said transparent tube, a removable electric bulb in said cap, means for illuminating said bulb, a sealing disc carried by said cap and abutting said abutment when the signal tube is in a retracted position and sealing the outer end of the casing and constituting a weather seal therefor when the signal tube is in a retracted position, the removable cap permitting access through the outer end of the signal tube to facilitate replacement of the electric bulb, and contact means carried by said casing and signal tube for automatically ,illuminating said bulb when said signal tube reaches an extended and display position.

IJLLIAN R. KUBIAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,224,657 Miller et al May 1, 191'?V 1,409,135 Rosiers et al Mar. '7, 1922 1,437,086 Bater et al Nov. 28, 1922 2,052,105 Murguiondo Aug. 25, 1936 2,094,514 Zika et al Sept. 28, 1937 2,122,508 Bell July 5, 1938 

